(1/11/13) - McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal reminds families to take caution during Gun Safety Month (January) as well as year-round. Access to guns creates a risk for serious injury and death. Most firearm-related injuries and deaths of children and adolescents involve handguns.

Safety Tip Week Two Many firearm accidents result from the handler mistakenly believing a firearm is emptied or otherwise disabled when in fact it is ready to be discharged. Additionally, trigger locks prevent motion of the trigger, but they do not guarantee that the firearm cannot be discharged. A gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.

Also, be aware that faulty assembly or design, wear and damage of the firearm can cause it not to function as intended. For instance, a safety may have worked down to a point where it is no longer functioning. Regular cleaning is also important for a gun to operate safely, as is proper care.

McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading cause of death in children 14 and under. McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal is funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation.